K-M CIRCUS

Kelly Miller Circus coming to town April 25, 26

 

The Kelly Miller Circus will be returning to the Parkland, MO Thursday, April 25 and Friday, April 26, at the St. Francois County Fairgrounds. Two performances will be held each day. Advanced tickets go on sale April 1.
from:  dailyjournalonline.com
by KEVIN R. JENKINS
March 22, 2013
The Kelly Miller Circus will be returning to the Parkland, MO April 25 and 26 at the St. Francois County Fairgrounds.
Performances will be held at 4:30 and 7:30 p.m. each day.
Advanced tickets go on sale April 1 — $10 for adults and $6 for children under the age of 12. They will be available at Hastings Unlimited, Farmington; Mike’s Supermarket, Bismarck; First State Community Bank, at all locations in Farmington, Park Hills, Desloge and Bonne Terre; Belgrade State Bank, Desloge and Farmington; and Redfield Collision Center, Farmington.
Proceeds benefit the St. Francois County Rotary Club.
Beginning at 9 a.m. April 25 when the elephants pull the big top into the air, to the very moment when the king pole races to the ground at the end of the day, the public is invited to be a part of "Circus Day" as it has been experienced for more than 200 years. Free guided tours will be given to let everyone take part in watching the elephants as they play together unchained in their “elephant pen.” Circus personnel will be on hand to answer any questions about any of the animals on display.
Begun in 1938 by Obert Miller and his sons, Kelly and Dory, the Al G. Kelly Miller Brothers Circus — now known simply as Kelly Miller — has entertained millions of American and Canadian citizens while establishing itself in the fabric and history of the American Tented Circus.
From 1984 through 2006, David Rawls, president and third generation circus performer directed Kelly-Miller Circus. In 2007, another chapter in its history began when the reins were passed to John Ringling North II. North’s great uncles were the famous Ringling Brothers, his grandmother, their only sister.
Born into this most famous of circus families, North grew up on the “Greatest Show on Earth,” learning circus operation from his father Henry Ringling North and Uncle John Ringling North.
The Kelly Miller Circus travels on a fleet of 25 vehicles and requires an area of almost 90,000 square feet to set up. The circus big top, imported from Italy, has a seating capacity of 1,500 and is made of waterproof vinyl. The tent is 120-feet by 130-feet and stands 40-feet high. It is supported by more than a quarter-of-a-mile of heavy gauge aluminum tubing, as well as several miles of rope, steel cable and chain.
The show has gathered a number of stars from many nations and an exotic display of animals, enhanced with theatrical lighting and lively circus music.